Budget, secular, outdoor (w/backup available) venues near Grapevine or Plano?

juslooking2010 · June 2012

(That is where most family will be coming from) I don't have an e-ring yet, but it has been purchased, so I am in the veeeery early stages of just window shopping.

My total budget is going to be like $5000. I'm not sure how much each part of a wedding should be what percent of the budget, but I would guess no more than $2500 for ceremony and reception site, depending on what's included?

I think we will invite around 125 guests. So maybe 100 will show up? I would love something outdoors - trees, flowers, pond, something scenic, for the ceremony. Churches and chapels with crosses would make us uncomfortable. The reception site is up in the air - we have the capability to hold it in his parent's huge backyard. The only issue would be parking, and no solid surface to dance in dress shoes.

I'd like to keep things simple - I don't plan to buy real flowers or a huge cake or have anything more than an ipod hooked up to speakers. I also think I have dinner figured out - the local hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant we love sells enchiladas or tacos by the dozen for $15-20, plus big things of rice, beans, and soup for like $5 a pop as well. I'd love to be able to use them as caterers, instead of the $20/head "preferred vendors" everyone seems to have. (I would also prefer to hire my own photog)

I know I probably seem a bit scatterbrained, but I just have no idea where to start

fallbride1109 · June 2012

Welcome! Well first of all, if you want to use your own caterer, you will need to find a venue that allows you to bring in your own caterer, so that is #1. Also you know you want an outdoor ceremony and a venue that holds 125 and what your budget is so you are off to a good start!

Winfrey Point in Dallas by White Rock Lake is an option but it is 100% DIY--I think they provide tables and folding chairs and that's it. But it would be simple and cheap. The Gazebo at Myer's Park in McKinney is really pretty and you could also have your reception at one of the facilities there.

If you wanted a ceremony only option, the Arboretum would be nice. I'm not the best at venues though so hopefully someone else will chime in!

crash2729 · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_budget-secular-outdoor-wbackup-available-venues-near-grapevine-or-plano?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:b20ee6de-ab16-4d0f-a714-5ed480f49c22Post:8780b658-acbc-45c0-b4ee-3751ea43bb47">Budget, secular, outdoor (w/backup available) venues near Grapevine or Plano?</a>:
[QUOTE](That is where most family will be coming from) I don't have an e-ring yet, but it has been purchased, so I am in the veeeery early stages of just window shopping. My total budget is going to be like $5000. I'm not sure how much each part of a wedding should be what percent of the budget, but I would guess no more than $2500 for ceremony and reception site, depending on what's included? I think we will invite around 125 guests. <strong>So maybe 100 will show up?</strong> I would love something outdoors - trees, flowers, pond, something scenic, for the ceremony. Churches and chapels with crosses would make us uncomfortable. The reception site is up in the air - we have the capability to hold it in his parent's huge backyard. The only issue would be parking, and no solid surface to dance in dress shoes. I'd like to keep things simple - I don't plan to buy real flowers or a huge cake or have anything more than an ipod hooked up to speakers. I also think I have dinner figured out - the local hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant we love sells enchiladas or tacos by the dozen for $15-20, plus big things of rice, beans, and soup for like $5 a pop as well. I'd love to be able to use them as caterers, instead of the $20/head "preferred vendors" everyone seems to have. (I would also prefer to hire my own photog) I know I probably seem a bit scatterbrained, but I just have no idea where to start :)
Posted by juslooking2010[/QUOTE]
Always plan for 100% attendance! <div>I know Angelsong just got married at the reflections @ spring creek in Plano...but Idk how much they were or anything</div>

professorscience · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_budget-secular-outdoor-wbackup-available-venues-near-grapevine-or-plano?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:b20ee6de-ab16-4d0f-a714-5ed480f49c22Post:6e60b10f-6931-4eb3-b466-a6c984babb8b">Re: Budget, secular, outdoor (w/backup available) venues near Grapevine or Plano?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Budget, secular, outdoor (w/backup available) venues near Grapevine or Plano? : <strong>Always plan for 100% attendance! </strong>I know Angelsong just got married at the reflections @ spring creek in Plano...but Idk how much they were or anything
Posted by crash2729[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes please.</div><div>
</div><div>Event 1013 in Downtown Plano is a really neat space. You might also check out some of the public parks in the area if you want to go really, really cost-effective. There are lots of parks with really nice pavillion areas.</div>

tprice11 · June 2012

Both Event 1013 Reflections will be waaaay out of your budget... I just looked! You May also look into the TRAC.

roseofdeborah · June 2012

I think the texas discovery gardens is gorgeous and affordable for outdoor weddings.

PaulandBrandy · June 2012

our original venue was the Texas discovery gardens. I love everything about it. The huge window over looking the lawn and the fountains are pretty

juslooking2010 · June 2012

Thanks for the suggestions! Many of those are quite a bit farther away than I was hoping for, but I'll try to map out the pros and cons of each.

I'm very tempted to rent a local park, but I just worry about weather! $25 venue leaves a couple grand to go towards our house downpayment...

I'd love to hear more recommendations near Grapevine! If we decide to do the reception at his parent's yard, a ceremony venue nearby would be awesome.

angelsong21 · June 2012

Reflections was $5500 for the all-inclusive treatment: food, alcohol, reception space, ceremony space, an outdoor garden space with pond, sound system, and a day-of coordinator (who was actually awesome and exceptionally helpful). What you need to remember though is that the price you are quoted initially usually does NOT include what is normally a mandatory 20% gratuity. Therefore, our total came to around $7000. Still far, far better than any other all-inclusive facility around (and also probably less expensive than a lot of the DIY ones too... that stuff adds up!).

fallbride1109 · June 2012

The only outdoor venues In Grapevine I know of are Paradise Cove or Delaney Vineyards which would be too much I think.

professorscience · June 2012

Why don't you just get married in the backyard? I know plenty of people who do ceremony/reception at someone's home..

aeliza06 · June 2012

Are you (or a member of your family) a Grapevine resident? If so, have you checked the Grapevine Botanical Garden?

prlmrg08 · June 2012

A little farther than Grapevine, but Los Vaqueros in Ft Worth is awesome and has an outdoor space. Their food starts as low as $9.95/pp!

Jen6862 · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_budget-secular-outdoor-wbackup-available-venues-near-grapevine-or-plano?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:b20ee6de-ab16-4d0f-a714-5ed480f49c22Post:9ecd272c-8609-4410-a5c6-b96bceb123cd">Re:Budget, secular, outdoor w/backup available venues near Grapevine or Plano?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Why don't you just get married in the backyard? I know plenty of people who do ceremony/reception at someone's home..</strong>
Posted by professorscience[/QUOTE]

I was going to recommend this too. It will help keep your budget under $5,000 if you keep everything at the same place. For this budget you should be able to rent a tent, tables and chairs for your parent's backyard--as long as it has a large flat space?

And you can get BBQ or Mexican catered for this price from a local restaurant for cheap--the nice thing about having them do it is they will bring all of the serving trays and plastic food utensils and dishes.

susanbre1 · June 2012

Have you looked at Chandler's Garden near Mckinney? $1900 covers the wedding site and a tented reception site--which gives you a back-up for weather, tables, and chairs. The site is absolutely beautiful!
www.chandlersgarden.com

juslooking2010 · June 2012

Oops I forgot I posted this for a few days, catching back up!

Quick responses:
I did look into the Grapevine Botanical Gardens, but they have a max of 60 people (including bridal party) and I plan to invite twice that. I guess we could cut out all the cousins and their +1s and just invite them to the reception, but I'd feel awful. Not to mention they charge $400 and don't include a single thing, not even chairs!

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do it in the backyard, and just DIY everything (that way we get 100% control over what date and time). But where the heck are the 125 people going to park in a suburban neighborhood??? I was considering doing the reception in the "main" backyard and the ceremony on their separate-but-connected empty triangle-shaped lot, but there arises the parking issue. I could use the triangle lot for parking (I'm not sure how many cars could fit), but that means the reception and ceremony would have to be crammed into the same area, and would require chair/table setup in between parts.

I dunno! I'll look at the other suggestions, maybe something else is easier

Budget, secular, outdoor (w/backup available) venues near Grapevine or Plano?

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